My new-to-me (used) gear for x-country skiing

Through the magic of time travel I’m able to post from the future! Well, not really. I’m just so behind on my blog that I’ve already been able to use my cross country skis 3 times. That’s how some of these pictures came about. It’s already April as I type this and more snow is on the way :)




This is me x-country skiing in the future

But lets go back in time to Saturday, March 7th since that’s when the whole cross country skiing idea came in to fruition. I live just around the corner from the REI Fort Collins store. Usually on Saturdays I head out early for some snowshoeing but yesterday I was lucky enough to be able stop in at REI before heading out to my full moon snowshoe (see previous post) which didn‘t start until the early afternoon.

I went to REI because I was looking for a day pack. I had narrowed it down to two or possibly tree brands/models and decided to check out the REI members only garage sale, hoping to find one that was slightly used and less expensive than a new one.



My new-to-me cross-country skis: Fischer BC Country Crown



I love the easy push button release Rottefella NNN-BC bindings

I didn’t find any used packs at REI that I wanted but I did come home with a pair of used cross country skis with bindings for $30, a pair of used xc boots for $15 and a pair of used ski poles for $18.



My new-to-me Rossignol BC7 boots





I love the sturdy design of this boot, it's very comfortable - so much better then those Alpina boots I rented





They even have a metal ring for attaching gaiters

I really enjoyed cross country skiing two weeks but I definitely wasn’t ready to buy new gear until I figured out how much I really liked cross country skiing and where I liked to ski and on what types of trails. I imagine that by the time I get my new skis I will have these things figured out plus which type of skis to get. But first I have to learn how to ski.



My new-to-me Rossignol adjustible poles



I have small hands and these small rubberized hand grips fit my hands well

I was really glad that I did a bit of research on xc skis two weeks ago after my first time skiing even though I had no plans on getting skis this soon. When I walked in to REI and saw all this xc gear, I already knew things about it, which made my decision to buy so much easier. Buying this used gear saved me hundreds of dollars. Coincidently, these same brands and models that I bought used where the ones I was thinking of buying, when I was ready to buy new.

Snowshoeing: State Forest State Park - Gould Trail

The same group I went with last time, was again doing the full moon snowshoe at the State Forest State Park today. Learning a few things from the last time we did this, we meet earlier in the day and arrived at the park before the sun had actually set. I won’t write too much about the park or the event again, you can read the previous post here .

I will say that getting to the park earlier made a word of difference. The Gould Trail is 6.5 miles long, so this time instead of snowshoeing all of it in the dark, we got to snowshoe half of the trail in the daylight, then we got to watch the sun set, and we finished snowshoeing in the dark. Well, not total darkness - the moon was almost full tonight and it was out illuminating our way.



Snow coming down hard as we arrive at the Moose Visitor Center at the State Forest State Park



The moose covered in snow and decorated with lights outside the Moose Visitor Center

But today‘s snowshoeing trek didn’t start out very well. As we headed toward Cameron Pass we ran in to some snow, then more snow and then almost white out conditions. The drive up was slow, the twisty highway 14 was snow covered but by then we were almost at the park. I was riding with a few others in a 4 wheel drive vehicle, out here having one those really helps when the weather turns nasty. We did joke around that if it kept snowing they might close Cameron Pass and since the park is on the west side of the pass, we might be spending the night in Walden.



The snow stops as we get our snowshoes on and head out



Gould Trail sign (left), a sign for the Chocolate Cabin where the park hands out free hot chocolate on the trail (middle), a glow stick hanging from a tree along the Gould Trail (right)



We start snowshoeing with cloudy skies but fresh snow on the ground



Looking back at the Moose Visitor center from the trail - the sky is clearing to the west



Dark sky to the east as the snow storm moves off in that direction





A hint of pink in the sky at sunset

The snow continued as we gathered at he Moose Visitor Center. We decided to try to snowshoe but if it got really bad we would cut it short. Amazingly, by the time we gathered our gear and went outside, the snow had stopped. We started our snowshoe, this time we did the Gould Trail in the clockwise direction, to change things up a bit. We had fresh snow on the trail, and since it had just stopped snowing we were breaking trail in lots of deep and delicate fresh powder - my favorite.



The park gives out glow in the dark bracelets, today I had mine attached to my waist pack where I keep my camera handy



Glow in the dark bracelets - glowing in the dark

The storm was heading east, the sky was very dark in that direction but it was clear and 24 degrees at the park. I had on my warmest jacket and hat, but I didn’t layer as much as before and I have to say I felt warm enough but never too hot. The moon came out, the sky was clear with an occasional cloud here and there. By the time we made it back to the visitor center it was 12 degrees out. We were all surprised because it didn’t feel that cold. It never seems cold to me when I’m moving.



A bit of daylight left on the trail



The moon



Hanging out at the Chocolate Cabin toward the end of the loop

We left the park before 9PM and a couple of hours later we arrived in Fort Collins to snow covered roads. The storm had already moved east of town, so the sky was clear here as well. We got really lucky with the weather tonight and being able to snowshoe in the fresh snow was awesome.

The Goatheads Are Out To Get Me!

Today was warm enough for shorts, 75 degrees and sunny, but windy also. Too windy to ride the motorcycle, although I really wanted to take the 954RR for a spin. With wind gusts up to 30+ mph I decided to take my MTB out for another ride around town. The wind doesn’t bother me on the bicycle riding in town as much as on the motorcycle riding in the open spaces and the foothills.



Enjoying the warm weather (I'm faking my smile here since I already know "what" has happened)

I made it about 3 miles from the house when I realized something was wrong. I just had this same sensation a few months ago so I was familiar with it. I got off the bike the check my suspicions.

Yep, my front tire was loosing air. Just a month ago, February 3rd to be exact, my bike became rideable again after receiving a goathead puncture to the rear tire in late December. I got my inner tube replaced with a puncture-resistant tube so naturally today I had another goathead stuck - this time in my front tire.



A goathed puncture in my front tire

I knew this would happen sooner or later but I was hoping for later. I still hadn’t figured out if I should go with the slimed tubes or those plastic or kevlar insert that go in between the tire and the tube. Either way my plan was replace the front tube, since the tubes that came with my bike were too thin for this goathead infested terrain.



I pulled the nasty goathead out and watched my tire go flat

I didn’t remove the goathead from my tire and made it home with some air still in the inner tube. Once I took the goathead out, the inner tube and tire went flat in minutes. It was nice to ride in the warm summer-like air , even if it was just for 6 miles or so.

Estes Park: Gem Lake

I’ve been thinking about Gem Lake since the last time I hiked here, that was about two weeks ago, the day I did my long hike around the Lumpy Range. Unfortunately, by the time I got to Gem Lake I had already hiked 9.4 miles that day and I still had 1.7 miles to get to the parking lot.

I was so tired toward the end of that hike, I just snapped a few pictures around Gem Lake and continued hiking to the car. I remember there being so many things there to see like amazing views and really cool rock formations. So today I decided to do a hike to Gem Lake. On my last hike I remembered the turn off for Balanced Rock, it didn’t seem to be that far from Gem Lake, so maybe I could hike there as well.

The little wheels in my head were spinning today. It was going to be a high of about 70 degrees today in Fort Collins, probably about 60 in Estes Park and I really wanted to ride my motorcycle to Estes Park to go hiking. But it was getting late in the day already and I would have to figure out how to get all my motorcycle gear locked and secured on to my 954RR which meant I’d have to find my cables and padlocks first. If only my ST3 was running. I miss not having lots of hard luggage.



Spectacular rock formations and boulders along the trail to Gem Lake



This area is very popular for rock climbing





Those boulders to the left are so smooth, they almost look "man-made"



Apen trees

Once spring and summer comes I will have to figure out the “hike and bike” thing, but not today. I jumped in my car and headed for Estes Park. The wind was blowing hard by the time I left and I was kind of happy that I was in my car and not on the bike. When the winds blow here, they really blow. But the wind was not blowing in Estes Park. It was very pleasant and unlike the last time I was here, today the Lumpy Ridge trailhead parking lot was packed with cars and the trail with hikers.



Estes Park from the Gem Lake Trail



Looking toward the west and Rocky Mountain National Park



More awesome views from the Gem Lake Trail



Gem Lake Trail: log stairs (left), rock stairs covered by snow (right)

I started to hike up to Gem Lake. The elevation gain in the 1.7 miles to the lake is 910 feet. The climb was constant. At times the trail was dirt, at times the trail was rocky. Some sections of the trail were made of rocks that were aligned as stairs - not sure about what other hikers think, but I’m beginning to dislike these “stairs”. It’s unnatural and harder to climb then just a regular natural hiking path and much harder to use the trekking poles on. Plus, it kind of reminds me of the “Stairmaster“.



Nature made a perfect hole through this rock



Same rock and better lighting - this picture was taken two weeks earlier, there was more snow on the ground then

After what seemed like a while, I made it to Gem Lake. I was surprised that with so many people on the trail, there was no one up here at Gem Lake. I decided to hike further although the sign said that the Balanced Rock was still 2.1 miles away. I somehow remembered it being closer to Gem Lake, oh well. That hike wasn’t going to happened today, it was already late in the afternoon. I hiked for about a half mile past Gem Lake and turned around. The trail had a bit of snow and ice on it and I didn’t bring my trekking poles with me today.



Gem Lake thawing out in the warm sun



The ice melting at Gem Lake



The clear waters of Gem Lake



How do these trees grow in the sand like that?



Standing on the "beach" in front of Gem Lake

I had a bit of time to waste so I headed back to Gem Lake to explore the area around the lake, the rocks and the beach. The lake had a thick layers of ice on it the last time I was here, today the ice was thin and melting. After a good 45 minutes at the lake, I hiked back down to the trailhead and drove home. I hiked about 4.5 miles today, but the steep rock steps on this trail made my knees feel like I hiked at least 6 miles.



These rocks remind me very much of the Greyrock near Fort Collins



A closeup of the same rock formation as in the above picture



A sign announcing closure areas (left), signs along the Gem Lake Trail (right)

Trailhead elevation at Lumpy Ridge: 7,920 feet
Gem Lake elevation: 8,830 feet
Elevation gain: 910 feet
Distance from Lumpy Ridge TH to Gem Lake: 1.7 miles



High-lighted in yellow is approximately the 4.5 miles round trip I hiked today